Combined opener and pour spout



NOV- 25 l952 J. K. M. HARRISON COMBINED OPENER AND POUR SPOUT Filed 0G11.. 24, 1947 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 +UNITED .STATES ATENT oFFicE COMBINED OPENER AND POUR SPOUT John Kearsley M. Harrison, Gainesville, Va.

Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 781,974 Y 2 Claims.

This invention relates to container openers of the self-dispensing type and more particularly to openers of the type that are used with containers having a longitudinal body member of chipboard or the like which is closed at both ends by discs of cardboard, plastic, or like material.

Containers of one type to which the present invention is applicable are described in patents to J. K. M, Harrison. In general, the Harrison containers are cylindrical although the invention may be used in connection with containers of other cross section and are closed at each end by a disc. The ends of the cylindrical container wall are spun inwardly and downwardly to form disc-retaining annuli.

The development of a dispensing opener to work with containers of the foregoing type has presented many difficulties. Ideally the construction should be simple and economical to reduce original cost and should be easy and positive in action so as to assist service station attendants and others who use such dispensers in the prosecution of their work. It has been found desirable to eiTect a two-stage opening of containers of the Harrison type; the iirst stage involving displacing the end disc and the second stage involving holding that disc in such a position as not to obstruct the passageway of the pour spout. One development along these lines has involved the disposition of a cutting member and a discpositioning member within a container provided with a pour spout. The operation of this assembly is first to pass the container over the end of the paper container to be opened and to strike a sharp blow causing the disc to be displaced and positioned in a nonobstructing position relative to the top end of the open container. This construction, while affording many advantages, has the disadvantage that once the opening has been effected the dispensing can and the containing can are not locked together, and hence, cannot be safely used except in fully inverted position. Furthermore, any difference between the discharge rate of the inner paper container and the spout attached to the outer dispensing container must be compensated for by a very long skirt on the dispensing container to catch any oil that may flow therealong and tend to spill out.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing difficulties are overcome and a pour spout is provided which closely engages the outer end edge of a container simultaneously with the displacement of the end disc of that container so that the original storage container can and does function as the dispensing container with result- (Cl. Z22-83.5)

ing economies in the cost of the container and in the time of the operator who is using it.

It is contemplated, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, to provide a vented, dispensing pour spout which can be rapidly engaged with a container of the Harrison type and which is leakproof and reliable in operation.

It is further contemplated, in accordance with the present invention, to provide a single means for displacing the end of the container and for holding that end out of now-obstructing position during the discharge of the contents of the container.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dispensing pour spout constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention wherein the disc-displacing element is adapted to be held in disc-displacing position by engagement with a surface adjacent the fill aperture in which the funnel end of the dispenser is inserted; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a form of dispensing pour spout of the present invention in which a single resilient element initially severs the end disc from the container and then holds that end disc out of flow-obstructing position.

First referring in detail to Figure 1, there is shown a pour spout assembly comprising a frusto conical funnel portion I0 and an annular engaging ange I I connected by an intermediate annular portion I 2. The intermediate annular portion I2 is provided with a bearing at I 3 through which a rod I4 is mounted to move in a reciprocating path. The rod I4 is provided with a stop I5 at its outer end and with a stop I6 at its inner end. The stop I6 is spaced from the bearing I3 .by a shim nut I1 so that when the ange II is surrounding the outer end surface of a container, and the connecting portion I2 bears against the end edge of the container, the stop I6 will be in a position to break the end disc of the container from sealing position. Between the bearing I3 and the stop I5 there is disposed a spring I8, the function of which is to bias the stop I6 to the full line position shown in Figure 1.

In use, the pour spout assembly is placed over the end of the container in the position shown in Figure 1 and is then inverted to insert the funnel portion I0 in the ll aperture of an automobile orankcase or other receptacle to which oi1 or other liquid is to be added. When the funnel portion ID is inserted in the ll aperture, some depression of the rod I4 is caused by the engagement of the stop I5 with the surface adjacent the ll opening. Thus, in the case of an automobile, the stop I5 may rest against the head of the motor while the funnel portion I is placed in the fill aperture. In any event, movement of the stop I in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 occurs. This causes depression of spring I6 and displacement of the stop I6 to the broken line position of Figure 1, in which position the end disc of the container is held out of flow-obstructing position.

As can be seen upon reference to Figure 1, the container with which the present invention is adapted for use comprises a cylindrical body portion I9 and an end closure disc assembly comprised of an outer disc 20, a main disc 2l, and a parchment disc 22. The end closure assembly is inserted in the end of the cylindrical body which has been precoated with an adhesive, and an annular fillet 23 is built up at the bottom of the assembly. The disc 22 may be parchment or the like and may have a greater diameter than that of the disc 2I. This parchment is glued to the disc 2I and to the inner walls of the cylinder I9. Alternatively, the cylindrical body of the container may be lined with a thermoplastic material which can be heat softened before the container ends are inserted, this scheme eliminating the necessity for adhesive. The blow struck by the stop I6 ruptures the parchment in some areas and tends tocause the disc to move counterclockwise as indicated in Figure 1 about an axis at X. When the container is inverted there would be a normal tendency for the disc assembly to restore itself to closing position, and this tendency is counteracted and prevented by the movement of the rod I4 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The container with which the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 is operated corresponds in all respects to that just described.

-The pour spout assembly comprises a funnel portion 30, a flange portion 3I and a connecting portion 32 corresponding in structure and function to the parts I0, II and I2 respectively. Mounted at one point on an inner face of the connecting portion 32 is a spring member 33, the end of which lies close to the margin of the end closure disc of the container when the skirt 3I is in the Figure 2 position. The member 33 initially causes the disc to be broken from sealing position and finally holds it in the position shown in Figure 2 to prevent its return to passageobstructing position which would interfere with the operation of the pour spout.

A vent aperture is provided at 34 in the funnel member 30 and a similar aperture 24 is provided in the funnel member I0. The purpose of these vents is to admit ailto the container during the pouring operation so that the oil may flow from the container freely.

While this invention has been described with reference to but two embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other forms of the invention are possible within the inventive concept which comprises a skirt or flange tightly engaging the outer end wall of a container and means supported Within the skirt for initially displacing the end disc and for thereafter maintaining the disc out of now-obstructing position.

What is claimed is:

1. A pour spout assembly including a skirt for surrounding and engaging in substantially leakproof relation the outer end side wall of a container, a funnel portion, an annular portion connecting said skirt and said funnel portion, a rod mounted to reciprocate through said connecting portion, stop means on said rod for limiting its path of movement, and a spring normally biasing said rod to the maximum extension exteriorly of the assembly, said stop means being so located that in the normal position suihcient length of the rod lies within the flange so that an end closure disc assembly can be broken loose upon insertion of the pour spout assembly over the end of a container.

2. A pour spout assembly as claimed in claim l wherein the stop means are adjustable to predetermine the length of the rod that normally projects into the space surrounded by the skirt.

JOHN KEARSLEY M. HARRISON.

REFERENCES CITED rEhe following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,411,542 Van Orsdale Apr. 4, 192,2 2,047,242 Young July 14, 1936 2,106,577 Sherbondy Jan. 25, 1938 2,343,602 White et al. Mar. 7, 1944 2,350,451 Embery June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 754,739 France Aug. 28, 1933 

